tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

Disappointing Leaf Loss & NFL Picks

What makes last night's 3-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens hard to take is the lack of intensity or better put a lack of desperation on the part of the Toronto Maple Leafs that has many of us in Leaf Nation wondering if this team will make the playoffs. This was a game that was set up for the Leafs and they blew it big time. With 8 of the 9 home games in January having been played, the Leafs are now 5-3. If you look at those three losses, only the loss against the Rangers was a game that the Leafs were totally outclassed. The loss to Ottawa and Montreal were eerily similar: the games were tied going into the third period and the Sens & Habs were playing the second of back-to-back games and in both games the Leafs failed to take hold of the game and grab it.

While the Leafs out shot the Canadiens, it was the Canadiens who had the better scoring chances and if it were not for Jonas Gustavsson the game would not have been tied going into the third period. The Leafs played like this was a game in early April and they were sitting comfortably within the top eight of the Eastern Conference. They showed no determination to do what was needed to win this game, particularly in the third period and you knew that as the game continued tied that this game could slip away and it did. While the games against the Bruins and the 3-0 loss against the Rangers were tough to take, last night's loss may be the worst yet. Even worse than blowing a big lead against the Carolina Hurricanes because last night the Leafs didn't exhibit a desire to do whatever it takes to win.

Brian Burke has said he just doesn't want to squeak into the playoffs but he wanted to be in the playoffs and be competitive. As he put it (and I'm paraphrasing), take a series or two or at least bloody someone's nose. Well, if last night is any indication, this team would be nothing more than cannon fodder for the Rangers or Bruins. It is evident that this team needs a couple of big bodies and it would be good if at least one of them had some playoff experience. I read in the Toronto Star where a Leaf player indicated that in the second intermission they talked about creating traffic in front of Carey Price. Yet, it was to no avail as the Leafs did nothing of the kind in the third period.

As I have said before, the Leafs are simply not good enough to coast and win. They need to utilize their speed and they need to realize that they must do the dirty things like going to the net. Shots from the top of the circle are not worth anything if no one is in front of the net. As this team is currrently constructed, there are very few players who are willing to pay that price. What would be great is if you had a big body with some skill to be paired with Phil Kessel. When Kessel makes a move to the net the defensemen have to move toward him which opens up ice for another Leaf driving to the net. Joffrey Lupul and Tyler Bozak have scored goals like that but in recent games I haven't seen much of it.

With John-Michael Liles, Colby Armstrong and Darryl Boyce due back, it would appear that a move will need to be made. Liles has been missed particularly on the power play and his return will mean that the Leafs will have 8 defensemen. If no trade is made I would suggest that Keith Aulie be sent down and probably Mike Kommisarek goes to the press box. Jake Gardiner must play and Cody Franson deserves to be in the lineup. With respect to the forwards, I believe that Boyce needs to be in the lineup. I think that Colby Armstrong should be put on a line with Kessel and Bozak to hopefully provide some muscle to that line and free some space up. I believe that when Armstrong was in Pittsburgh he was teamed up with Sidney Crosby. I would probably send Joey Crabb back down to the Marlies and I'm not sure who I would sit.

With these players coming back, I believe that a trade is imminent. Burke has to see that this season is slipping away and something needs to change. The Leafs next 2 games before the All-Star break are back-to-back against the NY Islanders. The Islanders have won three in a row and are playing better. These games will not be easy and the way the Leafs have been playing should give Leaf Nation cause for concern. In my mind, they need to win both games and that won't be easy. I guess will find out how desperate this team is to make the playoffs come Monday when the Isles roll into the ACC.
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Last week I was 1-1 bringing my overall record to 34-21. Over the last 14 weeks my picks are 30-13 and in the playoffs I'm 4-1. Of the two conference championship games today, I'm not picking the AFC contest. I think the Patriots will win but I'm concerned about the point spread. So here is my pick for today:

NY Giants (+2 1/2) over San Francisco: The Giants are on a roll and might be the most complete team left in the playoffs. They are facing a 49er team who's defense is one of the best in the league. That being said, Drew Brees torched them last week and Eli Manning has the ability and the weapons to put up some points. The difference will be the Niner offense against the Giant defense. The Saints blitzed big time last week and Alex Smith was able to capitalize on that. The Giants will not need to blitz to put pressure on Smith leaving plenty of guys back in coverage. As a result, the Giants are headed back to the Super Bowl. New York 23 San Francisco 17.